Buzzer-beaters and blow outs. Three new teams join The Observer’s Sweet 16 polls
The latest Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 poll, which counts games played through Tuesday night, welcomes three new teams and features a good bit of shuffling.
▪ Two new teams joins the boys poll: reigning N.C. 2A state champion Robinson is in at 4-2. Robinson has won three straight games since losing to N.C. 4A private school power Cannon School and N.C. 3A state champion West Charlotte.
Also in this week is East Mecklenburg, which got 43 points and a buzzer-beating game winner from star Jordon Nevill in Tuesday’s 74-72 win over Sun Valley. The Eagles have won four straight since a loss to Hopewell.
▪ One new team joins the girls poll. Ardrey Kell is in at 4-2. The Knights have losses against the top two teams in the rankings -- No. 1 Charlotte Catholic and No. 2 Lake Norman -- but have comfortable handled teams in four wins by more than 19 points each.
Beyond that, there’s quite a bit of shuffling. Lake Norman jumped three spots to No. 2, Ashbrook jumped into the top 10 and eight teams are “on the bubble,” ready to jump in should ranked teams falter. Of those, seven are undefeated.
Girls Sweet 16
| Rk. | Team | Class | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Charlotte Catholic | 4A | 3-1 | 1 |
| 2. | Lake Norman | 4A | 6-0 | 5 |
| 3. | Mallard Creek | 4A | 6-0 | 4 |
| 4. | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 6-1 | 2 |
| 5. | Providence Day | IND | 8-0 | 6 |
| 6. | Cannon School | IND | 6-2 | 3 |
| 7. | Shelby | 2A | 1-0 | 7 |
| 8. | Salisbury | 2A | 3-0 | 8 |
| 9. | Watauga | 4-1 | 4-1 | 9 |
| 10. | Ashbrook | 3A | 3-0 | 12 |
| 11. | East Lincoln | 3A | 4-0 | 13 |
| 12. | Newton-Conover | 2A | 5-0 | 14 |
| 13. | South Mecklenburg | 4A | 4-2 | 11 |
| 14. | Myers Park | 4A | 4-2 | 10 |
| 15. | Independence | 4A | 4-1 | 15 |
| 16. | Ardrey Kell | 4A | 4-2 | NR |
Dropped Out: Parkwood (3A, 4-1). Others receiving consideration: Alexander Central (4A, 4-0); AL Brown (4A, 3-0); Hickory Ridge (4A, 6-1); West Rowan (3A, 5-0); Hibriten (3A, 4-0); Freedom (3A, 4-0); East Rutherford (2A, 3-0); Bessemer City (1A, 4-0)
Boys Sweet 16
| Rk | School | Class | Rec | Prvs. |
| 1 | Carmel Christian | IND | 9-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Central Cabarrus | 3A | 6-0 | 2 |
| 3 | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 5-0 | 4 |
| 4 | Concord Academy | IND | 10-2 | 3 |
| 5 | United Faith | IND | 8-1 | 5 |
| 6 | Myers Park | 4A | 1-1 | 6 |
| 7 | Providence Day | IND | 8-1 | 8 |
| 8 | Olympic | 4A | 4-0 | 9 |
| 9 | J.L. Chambers | 4A | 2-2 | 10 |
| 10 | Cannon | IND | 9-2 | 11 |
| 11 | Charlotte Country Day | IND | 10-1 | 14 |
| 12 | West Charlotte | 3A | 5-2 | 7 |
| 13 | Robinson | 2A | 4-2 | NR |
| 14 | Gaston Day | IND | 6-2 | 15 |
| 15 | Charlotte Catholic | 4A | 4-1 | 16 |
| 16 | East Mecklenburg | 4A | 5-1 | NR |
Dropped out: Hickory (3A, 4-1); Salisbury (2A, 3-1). Also receiving consideration: Hough (4A, 6-1); Hopewell (4A, 3-2); Rocky River (4A, 4-2); Bessemer City (1A, 4-0); Kings Mountain (3A, 2-0); Butler (4A, 2-2)
NOTE: Records are through games played Tuesday
This story was originally published December 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
